Plumbing manifold



July 2l, 1953 A. w. ALLEN 2,645,783

PLUMBING MANIFOLD Filed Jan- 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k m Q N INVENTOR Ama/KAM ATTORNEYS duJll lll lll|| NN 1 Lui 11 l1 Il |l1| l limi@ ..--IliI L x Y M July 2l, 1953 A. w. ALLEN PLUMBING MANIFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1951 INVENTOR jvd )YJ/Jem ATTORNEYS BY 2%@ Maw Patented July 21, t 1,953

` LUMBiNG MANIFOLD llcnpGl-eensboro, N. Ci 4, 1951,'si-iai No. 204,426 f ii-aims. (CL4-191) Y ,a ...lz l i J This'jinvention relats'fto a"-jplumbingjxtur *le -K In the drawing throughoutvthe several'gures and more particularly toa manifold constituting of which the same reference characters have'be'en a single xturefto which maybeconnected rthe used to vdenote identical parts: Y f l I supply pipes to and vfrroi'nfthe'ybathtub and flava- A Figure y l is a -side elevation` partly' in section tory,and thek drains from'these`ilxtures,l as well 5 of a plumbing manifold embodying theconcept -the extruded portion threof'which' can`- t the following description of afpreferrdandpr as a common drain'tofthefsoil stackfand-a water 1 of my invention; connection to theflush tanlr. deviceof this Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section;`

nature is useful and"advantageousinithe'simplif Figure 3 is a View in vertical section, itaken iication of piping layouts` in residence plumbing, along the line 3 3 of Figure 2; f f providing a singlefpfjint', which lyf beI Vcfonvenj-j 10 Y Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along the line iently located with4 respect'gtoj 'all off the filxtures, 1 y '4-4 of Figure 3; y f v :i

to which all ofthe 'pipe connections fromjsaid Figure 5 is an explodedview in perspective, fixtures may bei brought. It is fiof Ainestirr'iable f lshowing the connection between anextruded secvalue in"roughing in fthe plumbing 'jforjbathtion andacast section; v rooms which are to 'befeqiiippe'd later; i'nwhich 15 -Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line the precise location of theflxturesgi'sfnot,yet 'as- 6;-6 of Figure 1;

certained, `by providing A`a""fo`c::al point to which f i Figure 7 is al sectiontaken along the line 1-1 the various fixtures' may l'aterbe connected.: of Figure 6. 1 i

One of the objects of the invention istovv pro- Referring now in detail to the several gures,

vide a plumbing manifoldthat'canbe set'upon 20 the numeral l represents ian-embodiment of the the floor, between joists, or 'in' any other desired f manifold of my invention as a whole, which conlocation, and'serveas a'common meeting place sists of a metal body I', having/three parallel for the hot and cold water supplypipes from longitudinal passages 2, 3 and lextending'subthe service line and water fheater and the water stantially therethrough, opening in the face of connections tothe bathtub, lavatory and-flush 25,"the manifold at the left end, as indicated in tank, as well as the drains from thebathtband Figures 1-v and 2. At the 4opposite end of the lavatory to the' manifold and from the. manifold kmanifold the said longitudinal passages have uptothesoilstack. j turned ends'5, 6 and 'Ifformingelbows inthe Another object ofthe" invention. is t0 provide l manifold, which open in the top face thereof. l a. manifold for the purpose'described, whichmay o The passages 2 and 3 are ofY relatively small be fabricated in sections, comprising an'extruded diameter and form water conduits'. The large section of uniform cross-sectional shape which diameter passage `Lis a drain. Adjacent their includes the longitudinal passages, 'andone'or middle, the small diameter passages communimOre Cast fittings ntegrated'wthih' `3115111.11613 -f Cate with downwardly extending branches 8 and portion, said 'cast fittings in'cludingths branch 35 9, and the drain passage 4 has a downwardly expassages which extend angularly 'from the l'o'n'gltending branch lll. The branches 8, '9 andl tudinal passages and opentotheexteriorjof'the open in the lower'nface of the manifold. 'The manifold. 'f` rends* ofall the passages which open in the face Still another object of the in tionisthe liroof the manifold may be threaded for iron pipe, vision of a manifold as describe hicli' can be 40 or left unthreaded for sweated jointswhen copmade in any length to suit pallculrfolldtios. per pipe is' used. Threaded connections' are in.- by reason of the uniform Across-sectional 'shape of dicated in the drawing. l l

' 'Iahedownward branches 8 and Sareidesigned to 'beconnectedy respectively to the4 coldand hot to any length. i.

A further object of the invention n l a manifold incorporating.means forjsealing vthe to apipe I3 which discharges into the soil stack. joints between the several passage' connections, The lefthand ends of the passages 2, 3 and #are in the sectional version of the device. intended to be connected respectivelyto the cold Still another object of thefinvention relates t0 and hot bathtub fixtures and to the-f bathtub means aside from the pipe`connectionsforsecur- 50 drain.' Y n ing the manifold in'fixedfpositiom tliisflbeing Y The upper ends 5, 6 and 1 of the passages` 2;A 3 especially useful when makingf-Swated COn'eC- and Aare for connection with 'thence-anabole tions with the manifold.`f il l 1 Other objects of'the'invention'v illifappear'as di-ain, the latter being seen at I4. .i

55 #-3- Thevl` coldr water passage -2 has an upwardly if Yextending' branchfpassage 14 adjacent its'middle,

tical embodiment thereof proceeds,

t0 provide 45 kwater supply pipes H andi?, and the branch'i',

lxturesefof-the-lavatory -and-'withi--the lavatory connected by the pipe I with the flush tank. The drain passage 4 has an upwardly extending branch I6 closed by a deck plate I1, having two depressions I8 for an unscrewing tool. This branch is to give access to the drain passage fOr unstopping it when clogged.

It is obvious from the above detailed description that I have provided a manifold forming a focal point to whichlcome the hot 'and' cold water supply to theba'throom, from which ypoint -it is distributed to the several fixtures, and to which point the drainage from the supplied fixtures 1 flare provided wtih elevated faces or tables 32 and turns. excepting of course, the discharge f i ow from the flush tank.

The plumbing manifold I may befanaintegral.i

casting, if desired, but in theillustrated embodi-V -33,which are flush with top surface of the tile an''may be suitably enameled for appearance,

ment of the invention it is a fabricatedstructure made up of one or more sections I9, containing the parallel longitudinal tubular passages, integrated ywith intermediate .and/oi` end.- sections containing the T and. elbow diversions. Since the sections I9 are ofuniform.cross'fsectiomgthey maybe extruded instock length .unitswhich` are cut-to thesize required for the parfticularrnanifold being made up. The elbowfand 'lfsections are cast.

The intermediatesectionhas flat videntical end faces 2I, one ofwhieh Vis shown in FigureS.

This-section .includes -intermediate .parts vof vthe i passages 2, 3 and 4. The fiat faceslfarevsurroundedby shallow peripheral filanges 22, which are beveled .on .theinside as indicated atr23-in Figure 3, and the extruded :sectionsI-Sl` after hav.-

A'ing been cutfrom a stock length are correspondingly beveled at the end as at 24 infFigure5, :with caille or -other tool, tov fit -within the flange' 22 against the beveled side thereof. A narrowvsp-.rce is ydefined between thefadjacent; end vfaces vofjthe section- 2 I) .and the-extrudedsection formingfa ,cell

forsolder.

iin Vconnecting the intermediate section; 2l) -to theextruded-section I9, the thin walled'thimbles '25 are employed, which iii snugly the respective passagesfeachhaving a feather-edged circumiferential collar 26fabout'its'rniddle. A thingesket 2IV of-so1der is used, having a `hole lpattern.corresponding to the passage .-arrangement inthe sections-to be joined. This gasketis placed within the recessfbounded by the Vflange 220i thefintermediate section. .Then the thimbles are pushed vthrough the holes in the gasket and ..into the .portions of the passages 2, -3 and4 in 'theinterg -mediate section. Then -the extruded sectionris pushed over the projecting parts of the ,.thimbles.

The `joint is subjected to endwise pressure'while a blowtorch. or other heatingmeansis applied. As the solder melts itis forced through the entire interface between the sections, including [the juncture formed by the bailles 23 and 24,making a vthorough sweated joint between said sections. The thimbles keep the solder from leaking into the passages which the joint intersects.

Whenas in Figure 1, the section 20`is between two extruded sections, the details of the -joint on each side of the intermediate section are iden# tical. The vsamev procedure isfollowed with respect .to=an.end section,such as the section 28,which is shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7. The end-section is provided with a flat end face 29, bounded by the peripheral tapered flange30-g the extruded Ysection I9 iscorrespondingly chamfered -at vthe adjacent end; the twosectionsare juxtaposed -.with thimbles 25fconnecting the'alignedparts of the passages, anda gasket 2'Iof solder placed in Lfifthemanlfold is not of corrosion resisting material. The. deck plate I1 is flush with the tile.

"Mainlytosave-weight and material, the extrudad sections I9 are hollowed out underneath. as indicated at 34, Figures 4 and 5, the hollow .defining sideflanges. 35. and IIIiv formed with interior longitudinal. ,shouldersl 31. `Fasteners 38, having resilient-arms gand III, arescrewed' to theboard 3.I,l the arms being shaped to snap over :the shoulders when the. manifold is pressed down upon the f asteners,thereby yholding the manifold .in place.v '.This is of importance in preliminarily locating the manifoldwhile Ythe pipe connections arebeing measured for length, and it is particu- ,larlyixnportant .inholding the manifold immobile whenmakin'g sweated joint's'with it.

"Wlile 'I' have Ain theabove description disclosed what 1I, believe be apreferred andi practical embodiment ofthe invention, it will be understood by4 those skilled in the art that the spec'ic details 'of construction and arrangement of parts, 4as .shown andde'scribed, are by way of example and notA to" be 'construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

lWhatI claim' is:

l.' Plumbing .manifold comprising a unitary v.elongated body .of generally rectangular cross- .sectio'rf having a, pluralityof parallel passages Atherethl-"ough opening in one end of said body .andinthetopbf said body adjacent the opposite en d, the.axesl of said .passages at their opposite jendsbeing"iperpendicularftwo of said passages being relatively small', to serve as conduits for water Vunder pressure. the other being'relatlvely .largeto-serve as a fdr'a'in, said body being .formed with branch passages communicating "with said r's't namedpassagesat anintermediate point in the length Vofsaidhrst named passages and perpendicular thereto. f2.' "Plumbing manifold 'comprising a unitary lngatedm'ody "of 'generally "rectangular cross- .section'having afflat' face Vat Vone end and fiat top 'faces respectively'at an' intermediate point 4and adjacentthe opposite end, said flat top faces" being`el'evated -above the'general level of 'thetop of said manifold and` being at the same level ,a .plurality Yf 'parallel passages extend- .through-said manifold, opening in said fiat end'iace and theflat' top face Ywhich lies ad- `jacent the -opposite end, the axes""of`said passages atoppos'ite ends being perpendicular, two o f.-said passages being relatively small to serve as conduits for waterunder pressure,` the other ,being relatively .large-.to serve as a drain,said .body having downwardlyextending branch passages communicating respectivelywith said rst named passages .in .the zone overlain "by said intermediate at top facepthellatter having an :accesspassageycornmunicating with said relatively large-.passagepand a closure forsaidaccess passage.

3. Plumbing manifold as claimed in claim 2, the bottom of said body being recessed to form longitudinal side flanges having interior longitudinal shoulders, and securing means for said manifold including resilient clips adapted to be anchored to a support and having resilient arms with cam bulges adapted to enter said recessed bottom and snap over said shoulders.

4. Fabricated plumbing manifold comprising a section of substantially uniform cross-section having a plurality of rectilinear parallel passages therethrough, two of said passages being relatively small to serve as conduits for water under pressure, another being relatively large to serve as a drain, and a section including extensions of said passages and branches thereof perpendicular thereto, said sections having adjacent flat end faces in juxtaposition slightly spaced to form a solder cell, one of said faces having a bounding iiange bearing against a complementary chamfered edge about the other of said faces, thimbles fitting the registering ends of said passages and extensions, intersecting the joint between said faces and a solder gasket between said faces for uniting said sections.

5. Fabricated plumbing manifold comprising a section of substantially uniform cross-'section having a plurality of rectilinear parallel passages therethrough, two of said passages being relatively small to serve as conduits for Water under pressure, one being relatively large to serve as a drain, and a section lincluding rectilinear extensions of said passages and upwardly directed branches thereof perpendicular thereto, said second named section having la dat top face in which said branches open, said sections having adjacent flat end faces in juxtaposition slightly spaced to form a solder cell, one of said faces having a bounding flange bearing against a complementary chamfered edge about the other of said faces, thimbles tting the registering ends of said passages and extensions, intersecting the joint between said faces and a solder gasket between said faces for uniting said sections.

6. Fabricated plumbing manifold comprising lateral sections of substantially uniform crosssection, and an intermediate section, said sections being in end abutment and having a plurality of rectilinear parallel passages extending continuously therethrough, opening in the opposite ends of said lateral sections, two of said passages being relatively small to serve as conduits for water under pressure, one being relatively -6 large to serve as a drain, said intermediate section havingbranches of said passages perpendicular theretoopening in the bottom face of said intermediate section, and having an upwardly extending branch from one of said relatively small passages and an upwardly extending access branch from said relatively large passage, a closure for said access branch, said sections having adjacent at end faces in juxtaposition slightly spaced to form a solder cell, one of said faces having a bounding flange bearing against a complementary chamfered edge about the other of said faces, thimbles fitting the registering ends of said passages and extensions, intersecting the joint between said faces and a solder gasket between said faces for uniting said sections.

7. Fabricated plumbing manifold comprising lateral sections of substantially uniform crosssection, an intermediate section and an end section, said sections beingin similarr endto` end abutment and having a pluralityof rectilinear parallel passages extending continuously therethrough opening in one end of said vmanifold and adjacent the opposite end of said manifold in the top face of said end section, two of said passages being relatively small to serve as conduits for water under pressure, one being relatively large to serve as a drain, said intermediate section having branches of said passage perpendicular thereto opening inthe bottom face of said intermediate section, and having an upwardly extending branch from one of the rela- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 140,165 Richardson et al. June 24, 1873 1,431,120 Krafve Oct.- 3, 1922 Lutz Nov. 6, 1934 

